SPOILER The Mandalorian S3E4 – Chapter 20: The Foundling

Kelleran Beq !!!

 

Mandoriffic!

Really looking forward to watching that again and absorbing all the details, but, Wow.

Two things I can't get out of my head-
Was that the Naboo Royal Guard?
And...
THAT was the Armorer's reaction to a living Mythosaur?!

 

This is a spoiler area. I guess all you know

What a come back!!!

That was awesome! Loved this character.

Am one of those who Samuel L. Jackson didn't convinced me at all. For me, he did a very poor job portraying a Jedi.

But I absolutely love Ahmed Best as Kelleran. So freaking cool! He has the pose, the skills, the good voice, great expressions. So happy for him. This is a really cool character and I hope to see him again in more flashbacks.

The chase in Coruscant was just perfect. Loved it. So PT vibes, and most important, well done.

I think so. I thought that too. Also the ship seems a Nubian type or whatever is call. Want to know where they will go with this ship.

Yeah, that was cold. She still doesn't believe her. Armorer still thinks a vision can be true. I guess is what Bo thought: nobody would have believed her. Now I want more to Bo ride that Mythosaur.



Was not convinced in the beginning of the chapter. Didn't want to watch a 25 min rescue of that foundling.
Thank the maker, after that incredible shot of the sun, the ship and the creature, the chapter goes the other round and we enter Coruscant a few minutes after.
Then, I really liked the photography and direction of the rescue. Could have looked like a fan clip with those armours and landscapes (like the chapter Tragedy of RR). But it looked so gritty, so old school, so cinematic. And the Mandalorian climbings, landings and flies looks incredible and real.
Love the visuals in this show.

Give me more.

 

Man, the episodes feel so short, more so with another week long wait.
I was probably wanting more than what we've got this episode, but I have loved the flashback sequence and was surprised!
So appearantly, someone from Naboo or linked to the Royal family/Naboo in some way have provided assistance to save Grogu.
I was surprised a lot, when I saw the Royal Naboo Yacht on the platform!
Also, is that Ahmed Best?! Yes, he is! Love that he was given a crucial role in the story and wasn't Jedi just for that quiz show.
The whole Coruscant sequence was awesome and I really hope we get more details on who saved Grogu, why and how did Grogu end up in that pirate den in Season 1.

It was fun seeing Grogu learn more of the Mandalorian ways and Bo Katan's internal thought struggle and can't wait what comes out of that.

Unfortunately, I haven't enjoyed that hunt for pterosaur at all, yes, it did have an impact on Bo's standing in the clan, but the story development is really slow and I am not such a sucker for action sequences, as basically this episode was a chase for pterosaur and we already saw Mandalorians fighting a dinosaur turtle and chilling on the rock since the start of the season... I was really hoping for some mid season teaser of something bigger, or looming threath linked to the whole Pershing and TIE fighter situation and I hope the next episode picks up!

Interesting thing: When they were hunting that bird, I was wondering how cool it would be, if Mandalorians mounted such or similar creature and here we go, the moment they brought the chicks in, of course they will fly those!

Also, the Armorer reminds me of Gandalf. Or not even... She's probably the most chill and don't give a damn character in Star Wars. Have you removed your helmet? Then you are Mandalorian no more... Have you seen a Mythosaur? Following the way of Mandalor, you can see stuff... This is the way.
I don't believe she has no agenda, but with lot of speculation before on what will be her reaction to Din's redemption... casual. So she's probably really this sage figure, reciting the dogma and not giving much of a damn.

 

Bwahaha, this is exactly what I was going to post. At first they weren't sure, all they saw was the giant pterodactyl, and then one day the croc monster ate a couple of them and they were like, "That's it--we've made up our minds." Mandos, amirite?

Anyway, this chapter checked almost everything off on my What I Love About Star Wars bingo card: Force stuff? Grogu is bringing it. Flashbacks to Jedi Temple and/or Din's past? Ahmed Best is on Coruscant for that (!!! That made me so happy--I thought he made a wonderful Jedi). Mandalorians doing ridiculous things like "quietly" climbing a cliff with the grappling hooks? Check. Din doing Mando dad things? You know it. Hint of mystical Mando lore? We have the Armorer for that. Complicated motivations disguised by a helmet? Thanks, Bo. Little nods to things like shriek-hawks?

Bonus for baby Ragnar getting regurgitated from a giant dino bird, getting squashed by its talons, falling a bunch, and then telling his mates, "I'm fine." Paz Vizsla being all dadlike? Awwwww.

Not sure why the Armorer is playing it cool about the mythosaur--she was like "Well, when you smoke that stuff you'll see things, honey." Wut? I feel like she's playing a long game with Bo. It bugs me that she was perfectly fine with all the outward trappings of belief in the Creed (baptism, not taking off the helmet) without probing at all into what's beneath. I mean, I agree that it's good to take Bo in. But is going through the motions just cool with the Children of the Watch?

But as for Bo...I feel like she's digging this sense of belonging and she's confused about the mythosaur, but you can't take the royal out of Bo. She wants to run things, and how will all that pan out?

P.S. The "look what followed us home, Mom, can we keep them?" moment...I can't

 

After watching chapter 20, the further integration of Bo Katan into the Children Of The Watch, and the Armourer's further acceptance of her, I still have this quote ringing in my ears.

--- Double Post Merged, Mar 22, 2023, Original Post Date: Mar 22, 2023 ---

The Armorer has always kept a posture of "Nothing can surprise me.".

Always wearing your helmet is useful for the purpose of hiding your feelings.

But that doesn't account for Grogu.

 

I understand your point. At least is still there

Although, what I like of the best shows and the great ones, is every season gives us different/new characters, points of view and parallel stories but always following the major one.

I think the name of the show, as you said, could refer to any Mandalorian and while the show moves forward, more characters are entering in that title. Even Grogu, Bo, or the different clans and houses and the whole creed itself.

 

I definitely see what you're saying here. (I have no answers about the darksaber, although I think it will still come into play later.)

But I think Din's presence was felt this whole episode, in a sense, even when he wasn't the focus. Action-ready Bo is part of the clan because of Din; he helps save Ragnar, and Paz and he are pals again; there is beskar because of Din's donations to the foundlings; Grogu will contribute to the group and even has a cute new Mudclan rondel...basically, Din is a uniting force, and the whole chapter more or less reflects his quiet presence in the tribe. (That's my story anyway, and I'm sticking to it. )

 

Bo says things in this episode which are straight out of Din's dialogue in series 1 when he's getting his own personalised armour signifying his and Grogu's little clan and the mudhorn. Almost verbatim.

 

Holy Maclunkey! Assuming he survives, please be in Obi-Wan season 2!

 

Probably more so in Mando’s case. In fact I think we can confidently say that at this point. There’s parallels within parallels. Both within individual episodes and across and between the series.

 

So the Armorer has three dragons now. Interesting...

I found Chapter 20- The Foundling to be an incredible episode. Without a doubt it's in the top 10 so far, which is impressive for what I'm sure many people will call a "filler episode". Just like that other pervasive little criticism, "fan service" Favreau and his team are reclaiming and redefining those terms, and basically saying, "yeah? So what?" Actually, to go to the heart of the matter, this isn't "filler" at all. This is backfilling for the purpose of making the foundation even more solid. They are fleshing the story out as it goes, instead of the more common SW way of going back and retrofitting. Sure, part of it is through flashback, and talk of "eons" past, but we are also seeing the development of all of these characters in the past AND the present. It's just really great storytelling, and I am impressed with how the writing has evolved for the series.

Once again, they faked us out. I think most of us were expecting a return to Nevarro and a Mando vs. Pirate fight episode. We know that is coming, and this one was an unexpected gift. I love the Day In The Life of The Children of the Watch. Shootin', fightin', jet-packin', wrestlin', flame-throwerin' fun time at the beach. I love the rescue of Ragnar sequence, the way that Bo just jumps in and takes charge, even more how everyone else, including Paz, acknowledged and followed her... that was some great foreshadowing. Big, bad, tough guy Paz Viszla takes the ''almost had me choked up moment" with "he's my son!" and that little moment with Din after he saves the kid. They seriously softened my feelings for Paz and the Armorer this episode, which makes me even more suspect of them now.

Speaking of the Armorer, her interactions with Grogu were probably my favorite part of this episode. Not to mention that scene with Bo at the end. Now that I've watched it twice, and read some other takes, I really have to stick with my first thought. Her reaction, to me, was more of something like, "damn, my secret is out..." Like she tried to play it off as just a vision, but she knew there was a Mythosaur in the mines. Bo was definitely skeptical about telling anyone for fear of being thought crazy, plus I think she knew that if she had told Din, he would have insisted on doing something rash and spontaneous right then and there.

Kelloran Beq. I like this story, and I had no idea this was a character. I didn't even make the Ahmed Best connection until the credits, but hey, that's cool. I do remember something about him playing a background Jedi in one of the prequels, but it turns out that wasn't the same character, although they were related? Okey-dokey. I had never even heard of Jedi Temple Challenge until today, so of course, imma gotta binge that. I loved the entire flashback, how could you not? And I thought it was brilliant to bring us right back to the exact same spot at Umate, just thirty years or so earlier than last week. I have to say that was the Naboo at the rendezvous, and that has me very intrigued. My first connection was that Obi-Wan working with Padme and Tanaka or Typho. Then again, we all know who else is from Naboo, so... I do hope that Beq survives the flight, and the prospect of him still being out there somewhere could be a fun storyline.

Lastly, I do have to say Bravo! to Carl Weathers. This was a masterfully directed episode. I did call it earlier that maybe Greef would not appear in Carl's episode, and at least I think that signifies that he is evolving as a director. This episode proved that.

 

I just realized that something I thought was a mistake in this chapter...maybe isn't.

When Din puts Grogu up to the challenge, the judge says, "He's too small," and Din replies, "I am his ward. Proceed." I was like, "Hmm, a ward is someone who's being protected, so Grogu is the ward here." And in context, since Din is the guy who has authority, it is wrong.

BUT as we all know, Grogu has done his share of protecting too. And in a recent interview PP said this:

Was "ward" a mistake, writers? WAS IT?

 

Just speculating here, but I wonder if we're going to see Jar Jar this season. I suspect that maybe he has some connection past and present to Grogu?